If you look at the twitter message of Sebastian, this was not merely stating an opinion, but a knock towards Lol. Very unpleasant. Roger thought probably better of it, for whatever reason, since he adjusted his statement.

Lol was fairly explicit that his book is a memoir and not an autobiography or history. He cited some incident he remembered vividly, asked ex-bandmates about details, they all had the same response: YOU WERE NEVER THERE. we told this story so often you imagine you remember it. He said that a lot of Cure fans are better than he is on getting the actual facts right. I took Cured to be the story of Lol's experience and transformation, and relationship as Robert's friend, but not the definitive story of the Cure. We'd need books from Simon AND Robert and all the other Cures to have an idea of what really happened (wasn't Robert writing a book at some point?). Even then there would probably some collective Fiction going on... :-)

I think we should all keep in mind, that although it was Robert's decision to sack Lol, it was Roger that was his specific replacement. Recall, he was brought in, in time for the Kisding Tour while Lol was still in the band. By the time of the sacking, Roger was obviously the only keyboardist - and let's be honest - he's far more skilled and proficient at the keys than Lol ever could be.

I've always felt that there's a nasty bitch side to Roger coming largely from an inflated sense of self worth. He's probably right, Lol's book, I'm sure has plenty of inaccuracies but between Robert's on stage comment and that I just wish they'd grow up. Pathetic really; grown men.

Along time ago, when Roger and Perry left the band, I was quite sad. So I emailed Roger on his website and asked what happened. Roger was not kind in his response on the subject matter (our dear RS, himself). Rightfully so, he was just removed from a band that he loved. So I took it as-is and kind of moved on and wished him luck. So Roger's opinion of Cured doesn't surprise me. We have yet to hear of what Robert's actual opinion is. But I'm seeing Lol today in Chicago - I'll just ask him.

I didn't have to ask. They asked in the initial interview. He said the same, that if there was something in it that RS didn't like, he would have heard about it. He also said (again) that this is his memoir, not Robert's. Then he was asked to make a dig at RS which I thought quite rude of the interviewer.

I think it's nothing more than abit of banter let's not get carried away here and start second guessing. Roger by his own admission (and Roberts) is "an awkward character!" Why do you think he's in his third stint?!

Roger is in an interesting position. He's seen as overall being The Cure's main keyboardist in their history, yet he didn't join until after most of their well-known stuff was already written. And he only joined (at first at least) to play extra keyboards while they were on tour. I'm sure he's more technically proficient at keys than Laurence is.

I haven't finished Cured yet but it seems that Laurence is trying to be conciliatory to everyone. But I guess there's some remaining grudge somewhere? Did Roger not like performing with Lol on the Reflections tour?

Roger is in an interesting position, as you say. He was brought in to the band in 1987 and saw the worst of the worst of Lol and that's the only experience he can comment on, other than Reflections nearly 25 years later.

The only thing I remember about Roger being sacked from The Cure in 2005 is the stupid statements he had. Being bitter does not allow anyone to spit one's angers on the fans. I clearly remember his "fuck off" to fans who asked for explainations about "Homesick" piano parts... To me, it says a lot about the character.

Roger has always been one of my favorites. He is so incredibly talented and has accomplished so much that I am in awe of him. Personality wise.... I think it would be interesting to have a face to face conversation with him. I get in trouble all the time at work for yelling at my co-workers, it sounds like we have a lot in common ;) .

Agree with some here that ROD always came across as a bit of smarmy self-satisfied pedant. Obviously, having not met the guy, this all boils down to instinct and may be off the mark. But still, who cares whether some details in Lol's book of a night out in Rotterdam are made up. Maybe even his encounter with an old man in the desert is bogus. Still the feeling that shines through - and the redemption story he tells - is a far greater achievement to me than the dinky keyboard parts Roger's been living off. To each his own I guess.

Lol didn't really mention Roger in the book, but he did mention him in the credits as a "mate" and for "being there when it counted". Roger has been nothing but helpful and forthcoming in a good number of e-mails I sent him, usually about equipment or live recordings. I don't take Roger's 'statement' as a dig at Lol; if it is, it's good-natured. Roger wrote a long and informative essay about the 20th anniversary of Disintegration and he went out of his way to take responsibility for his part in 'tormenting' Lol toward the end of Lol's membership in The Cure. He was conciliatory and humble. There's nothing in Lol's book or Roger's essay that could be construed as any kind of personal 'attack'. Not even close. More has been said about Roger in this thread alone than Roger has ever said about any current or former band member. In public anyway, and to speculate about what has been said in private is just...wrong.

Roger is a phenomenal human being. I've been in touch with him via email ever since Erin Lang's first single was released. One item he shared with me before going public was the rough draft of his memories of Disintegration. He said back then re: the bullying of Lol and how it was hard not to join in when everyone else in the band was bullying Lol. He felt terrible about it and wished he hadn't jumped on that bandwagon. But certainly you must acknowledge that Lol himself brought a lot of this "hostile" work environment he experienced on himself! I wish he hasn't edited his book recommend.

I've got a high opinion of Roger. At a Hannah in the Wars gig, last year, he was kind enough to stop and have a conversation with me. At another gig, he agreed to have a look at my keyboard covers you tube videos, gave me his email address and after I emailed him the link, he replied back the next day to say that he had watched it and gave nice feedback. I felt very honoured. He's a good man.

Roger has always been lovely to me in the past. I was just a design student at the time, but he had no problem at all taking the time to answer my questions for a mock interview that I was putting in a magazine that was only ever meant to be a school project. Not even real, but he didn't care, and was very gracious about it. We haven't been in touch for a long time, but I still think he's lovely. I think people take him too seriously, especially his humour. Back then I took a few of his jokes the wrong way, but he is English after all… oh how I've learned ;)